These curriculum standards have been edited to reflect the themes of the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site’s Annual Oratorical Contest, and fail to reflect the breadth of the school system’s social studies standards. This document is an aid. For clarification or more information please view the original document found at: http://mdk12.org/assessments/vsc/index.html
MARYLAND VOLUNTARY STATE CURRICULUM – SOCIAL STUDIES
5.0 CONTENT STANDARD: HISTORY: Students will examine significant ideas, beliefs, and themes; organize patterns and events; and analyze how individuals and societies have changed over time in Maryland and the United States.
(PreK‐3 Standard) HISTORY‐Students will use historical thinking skills to understand how individuals and events have changed society over time.
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Grade 1
A. Individuals and Societies Change over Time
1. Examine differences between past and present time
a. Use terms related to time to order events sequentially that have occurred in the school
b. Classify events as belonging to past or present
2. Compare people and objects of today and long ago
a. Construct meaning from informational text and text features about the past
b. Collect and examine photographs of the past and compare with current photographs of similar images, such as old photographs of the school and community
Grade 2
A. Individuals and Societies Change Over Time
1. Examine differences between past and present time
a. Develop a personal timeline in each students’ life
b. Describe the relationship among events in a variety of timelines
2. Describe people, places and artifacts of today and long ago
a. Gather and interpret information about the past from informational sources and biographies
b. Collect and examine photographs of the past and compare with similar, current images, such as, photographs of modes of transportation and communication
Grade 3
A. Individuals and Societies Change Over Time
1. Examine differences between past and present time
a. Develop a timeline of events in the community
b. Explain the relationship among events in a variety of timelines
2. Investigate how people lived in the past using a variety of primary and secondary sources
a. Collect and examine information about people, places, or events of the past using pictures, photographs, maps, audio or visual tapes, and or documents
b. Compare family life in the local community by considering jobs, communication, and transportation
6.0 CONTENT STANDARD: SOCIAL STUDIES SKILLS AND PROCESSES‐ Students shall use reading, writing, and thinking processes and skills to gain knowledge and understanding of political, historical, and current events using chronological and spatial thinking, economic reasoning, and historical interpretation, by framing and evaluating questions from primary and secondary sources.
Grades Prekindergarten – 2
D. Acquire Social Studies Information
1. Identify primary and secondary sources of information that relate to the topic/situation/problem being studied
a. Gather and read appropriate print sources, such as journals, textbooks, timelines, and trade books
b. Read and obtain information from texts representing diversity in content and culture
c. Locate and gather data and information from appropriate non-print sources, such as music, maps, graphs, photographs, and illustrations
Grades 3 - 5
D. Acquire Social Studies Information
1. Identify primary and secondary sources of information that relate to the topic/situation/problem being studied
a. Gather and read appropriate print sources, such as textbooks, government documents, timelines, trade books, and web sites
b. Read and obtain information from texts representing diversity in content, culture, authorship, and perspective
c. Locate and gather data and information from appropriate non-print sources, such as music, artifacts, charts, maps, graphs, photographs, video clips, illustrations, paintings, political cartoons, interviews, and oral histories
Grades 6 - 8
D. Acquire Social Studies Information
1. Identify primary and secondary sources of information that relate to the topic/situation/problem being studied
a. Gather and read appropriate print sources, such as journals, periodicals, government documents, timelines, databases, reference works, and web sites
b. Read and obtain information from texts representing diversity in content, culture, authorship, and perspective
c. Locate and gather data and information from appropriate non-print sources, such as music, artifacts, charts, maps, graphs, photographs, video clips, illustrations, paintings, political cartoons, multimedia, interviews, and oral histories
d. Access and process information that is factual and reliable from readings, investigations, and/or oral communications
Grades Prekindergarten - 2
E. Organize Social Studies Information
1. Organize information from non-print sources
a. Distinguish factual from fictional information
b. Find relationships between gathered information
c. Display information on various types of graphic organizers and charts
2. Organize information from print sources
a. Distinguish factual from fictional information
b. Find relationships between gathered information
c. Display information on various types of graphic organizers, maps, and charts
Grades 3 - 5
E. Organize Social Studies Information
1. Organize information from non-print sources
a. Prioritize information gathered according to importance and relevance
b. Distinguish factual from fictional information
c. Find relationships between gathered information
d. Display information on various types of graphic organizers, maps, and charts
e. Categorize information obtained from surveys and field work
2. Organize information from print sources
a. Prioritize information gathered according to importance and relevance
b. Distinguish factual from fictional information
c. Find relationships between gathered information
d. Construct various types of graphic organizers, maps, and charts to display information
Grades 6- 8
E. Organize Social Studies Information
1. Organize information from non-print sources
a. Prioritize information gathered according to importance and relevance
b. Distinguish factual from fictional information
c. Find relationships among gathered information
d. Display information on various types of graphic organizers, maps, and charts
e. Summarize information obtained from surveys and field work
2. Organize information from print sources
a. Prioritize information gathered according to importance and relevance
b. Determine the bias and reliability of a source
c. Find relationships among gathered information
d. Construct various types of graphic organizers, maps, and charts to display information
Grades Prekindergarten -2
F. Analyze Social Studies Information
1. Interpret information from secondary sources including pictures, graphics, maps, atlases, and timelines
a. Compare information from a variety of sources
b. Compare information to prior knowledge
c. Recognize relationships in and among ideas or events, such as cause and effect, sequential order, main idea, and details
Grades 3 - 5
F. Analyze Social Studies Information 1. Interpret information from primary and secondary sources
a. Interpret information in maps, charts and graphs
b. Interpret information from field studies and surveys
c. Analyze a document to determine point of view
d. Analyze the perspective of the author
e. Identify the bias and prejudice
2. Evaluate information from a variety of sources
a. Compare information from a variety of sources
b. Compare information to prior knowledge
c. Determine the reliability of the document
3. Synthesize information from a variety of sources
a. Recognize relationships in and among ideas or events, such as cause and effect, sequential order, main idea, and details
Grades 6 - 8
F. Analyze Social Studies Information
1. Interpret information from primary and secondary sources
a. Interpret information in maps, charts and graphs
b. Interpret information from field studies and surveys
c. Analyze a document to determine point of view
d. Analyze the perspective of the author to determine if the document or topic is historically significant
e. Identify bias and prejudice
2. Evaluate information from a variety of sources
a. Compare information from a variety of sources
b. Compare information to prior knowledge
c. Determine the reliability of the document
d. Compare ideas, models, systems, and perspectives
3. Synthesize information from a variety of sources
a. Recognize relationships in and among ideas or events, such as cause and effect, sequential order, main idea, and details
b. Reconstruct the arguments of issues or events
c. Assess the costs and benefits of alternatives
d. Modify understandings of social studies concepts and trend
e. Verify or change prior understandings based on new
information
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Grades Prekindergarten – 2
G. Answer Social Studies Questions
1. Describe how the community has changed over time and how people have contributed to its change, drawing from maps, photographs, newspapers, and other sources
a. Present social studies information in a variety ways, such as plays, skits, posters, songs, poems, murals, and oral presentations
b. Plan and engage in school and community events, such as a mock election, playground clean-up, writing letters to community officials, and fund-raising for a cause
Grades 3 - 5
G. Answer Social Studies Questions
1. Describe how the country has changed over time and how people have contributed to its change, drawing from maps, photographs, newspapers, and other sources
a. Present social studies information in a variety ways, such as mock trials, simulations, debates, and skits
b. Engage in civic participation and public discourse
2. Use historic contexts to answer questions
a. Use historically accurate resources to answer questions, make predictions, and support ideas
b. Explain why historic interpretations vary and are subject to change
c. Construct a sound historical interpretation
Grades 6 – 8
G. Answer Social Studies Questions
1. Describe how the country has changed over time and how people have contributed to its change, drawing from maps, photographs, newspapers, and other sources
a. Present social studies information in a variety ways, such as mock trials, simulations, debates, and skits
b. Engage in civic participation and public discourse
c. Use effective speaking techniques to deliver narrative, persuasive, and research presentations
2. Use historic contexts to answer questions
a. Use historically accurate resources to answer questions, make predictions, and support ideas
b. Explain why historic interpretations vary and are subject to change
c. Construct a sound historical interpretation
d. Understand the meaning, implication and impact of historic events and recognize that events could have taken other directions
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